Member Corner
HE Dr Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), delivered a goodwill message at the opening of the 2026 Nigeria International Energy Summit (2–5 February 2026), themed “Energy for Peace and Progress: Securing Our Shared Future,” chaired by His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In his remarks, Dr Mshelbila commended Nigeria’s leadership in establishing strong policy foundations—through the Petroleum Industry Act, the Decade of Gas Initiative, and the National Gas Master Plan 2026—which are translating into renewed investor confidence and project momentum toward becoming a gas-based economy by 2030. He highlighted Africa’s vast gas resources as a critical foundation for industrialisation, energy security, energy access, and long-term economic resilience, especially with the expected population growth of about 1 billion more people expected on the continent by 2050.
He underscored the central role of natural gas in powering homes and industries, supporting fertiliser production, expanding LPG and modern gas solutions for clean cooking and enabling hydrogen value chains. Dr Mshelbila reaffirmed GECF’s commitment to working with African countries to uphold the right to development, advance just and orderly energy transitions, and support investment facilitation, dialogue, capacity building, and data-driven analysis.
The 2026 NIES convened Presidents, Ministers, national and international oil companies, independents, investors, and service providers from across the global energy industry.
On the sidelines of the Summit, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) paid a courtesy honour to the Secretary General in recognition of the GECF’s continued engagement and support.